Domaine de la Tournelle, Corvees Sous Couron, 2017

Opulent, Honeysuckle, Almonds

Evelyne and Pascal Clairet own 7 hectares in the region around Arbois. They have run this domain since 1991, and one of the things that stands out most is perhaps their meticulous approach to quality control of the grapes. To avoid them becoming damaged after picking, they are loaded into 20kg containers, which are then transported by sledge. This might sound trivial, but it has big implications for the wine – it means that there is rarely any need to add sulphur to compensate for grape damage.

They farm biodynamically and their land is free of synthetic chemicals. Everything is done by hand including destemming (even though they own a machine that could do this for them, such is the meticulous work of the domaine.) They do not work in the more traditional sous voile, oxidative styles of wine opting rather for a fresher more for want of a better word “Burgundian” style.

Hand harvested grapes get a very gentle pressing using a pneumatic press before fermentation with indigenous yeasts in tanks. The wine is then put into old 228 litre barrels where it rests on the lees for 18-24 months. No added sulphur.